Machine for projecting fibers



mm mm 0m 0m alumi um? 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 3 1 mm mm H R. E. SCHLEMMERMACHINE FOR PROJECTING FIBERS March 6, 1962 Filed Jan. 50, 1961INVENTOR" 406E47f661 EMMA-Q ATTORNEY March 6, 1962 R. E. SCHLEMMERMACHINE FOR PROJECTING FIBERS 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Jan. 30, 1961 T @mmm mm H r 0 i 0 ow I: I i 5 x I, I W F. nmlld z. E t a NM 2 x 2 0 mm r;L J 1 2 @WHMQ mg m MW WWW i i a E L l 4 w 1 t 1 w I 4 a j i INVENTOR406E 7550/4 M vffl ATTORNEY March 6, 1962 R. E. SCHLEMMER MACHINE FORPROJECTING FIBERS 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Jan. 30, 1961 wm I : vow

INVENTOR Q00 54 T 55? HM R ATTORNEY March 6, 1962 R. E. SCHLEMMER3,023,967

MACHINE FOR PROJECTING FIBERS Filed Jan. 50, 1961 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 42POWER SUPPLY FIG. 7

INVENTOR 406 547- 'f izi/vmaa z ATTORNEY ms. Mr,

3,023,967 MACHINE FOR PROJECTING FIBERS Robert E. Schlernmer,Succasunna, N.J., assignor to United States Mineral Wool Company,Stanhope, NJ a corporation of New Jersey Filed Jan. 30, 1961, Ser. No.85,616 4 Claims. (Cl. 239-61) This invention relates to a novel, machinefor and method of projecting a stream of fibers onto a surface to becoated thereby, with particular reference (Without limitation thereto)to projection ofinsulating and acoustic fibers. I

The invention provides for. synchronization of fiber and moisteningliquid flow and mixture automatically during the entire operation of themachine, avoiding the errors the operatorotherwise would make in havingtoo small or too high a rate of moistening liquid to suit the quantityflow of fiber. Thus uniformity is attained, obviating the nonuniformityand damage resulting in practice from over or under moistening offibers. The objectives above mentioned are attained in a novel andautomatic manner by the improved machine and methodof the invention,involving novel procedures which have been proven to be highlysuccessful in practical operation.

An object of this, invention is to moisten fibers so applied at anautomatically adjusted, predetermined ratio of moistening fluid tofiber, maintained constant without reliance on or action by theoperator, under variations in volume of flow of fiber encountered inpractice.

The drawings, illustrating procedures and devices useful in carrying outthe invention, and the description below, are exemplary only of theinvention, which shall be deemed to cover all other devices andprocedures coming withinthe scope and purview of the appended claims.

In the drawings, wherein similar reference characteristics indicate likeparts:

FIG. 1 is a partly sectional side elevational view of a machineembodying the invention,

FIG. 2 is an end elevational view thereof, taken at line 22 of FIG. 1,

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary elevational sectional view thereof, taken atline 3-3 of FIG. 4,

FIG. 4 is a vertical sectional view thereof, taken at line 44 of FIG. 3,

FIG. 5 is a side elevational view thereof, taken at line 5-5 of FIG. 2,

FIG. 6 is a fragmentary perspective view of parts thereof, and

FIG. 7 is a schematic view of a form of the invention.

As shown in the drawings, the novel machine of this invention includes acasing 10 which may be formed with the lower wall 11 thereof (FIG. 4) ofV outline or otherwise formed and with agitators 12 with blades 13thereon inclined toward the discharge end 14 (FIG. 1) of the casing. Theagitators 12 may be of such number as may be desired (three sets beingshown by way of example) and may be driven by suitable means such asFIG. 2 by a chain 15 entrained over pulleys fixed to the ends of theagitators and in turn driven by suitable means such as a chain 16 drivenby shaft 17 of (FIG. 1) motor 18. The blades 13 are preferably sodirected as to move fiber deposited into the casing 10 toward the end 14of the machine adjacent which the casing is provided with a dischargeaperture 19 through which the fiber is fed to the discharge hose 20(FIG. 3) having flexible pipe 21 (FIG. 1) connected thereto.Intermediate the discharge aperture 19 of casing 10 and the flexiblepipe 21 the fiber may pass through a connecting chamber 22 (FIGS.

' ited States Patent 0 2 and 3) and metering device 23. The latter maybe such as shown at 16 in FIG. 2 of Stumpf, Patent No. 2,890,079, or maybe of any other type designed for metering the fiber into the dischargehose 20 and out of said hose under pressure of the compressed air line24 connected to a suitable source such as compressor 25 (FIG. 1) havingsuitable parts such as an air intake filter 26 and an actuating motor 27(FIG. 5

The aperture 19 of the casing 10 (FIGS. 6, 4, 3) may be closed to thecontrolled degree desired by moving a plate 28 (which may be mounted inslidably arranged underlying relation to the lower Wall 11 of casing 10,on rails 30). To that end, a rod 29 is fixed atone end 31, to the plate28 and at the other end to power operating means 32 which may, forexample, be a reversible solenoid or an air or liquid cylinder or otheractuator, having lines 33, 34 (FIGS. '3 and 7) connecting the powermember 32 with a fluid or compressedair source 35 (FIG. 7) for example,through suitable solenoid or other control means or valves 36, 37 forthus controlling the direction of movement of rod 29 and thus the degreeto which the aperture 19 is uncovered by plate 28 and thus the quantityflow of fiber through the casing and into the discharge pipe 21. Thesolenoid or other valves 36, 37 may in turn be actuated by switches 38,39 (FIG. 7) which may be controlled by the operator so as to move thep1ate28 in the desired direction to precisely the desired extent to thusprecisely control the area of aperture 19 left uncovered or open andthus the quantity flow of fiber through the machine. The switches 38, 39may be incorporated in a panel 40 (FIG. 5) fixed to the flexible hose 21adjacent its dischargeend in any convenient manner, or at any otherpoint for ease of operation, and a power line switch 41 may beincorporated (FIGS. 5 and 7) in said panel for connection of the sourceof power 42 (FIG. 7) through switch 41 and transformer 43 to thesolenoids 36, 37. Compressed air and liquid lines 44, 45 (FIGS. 1, 2 and5) may be connected with compressor 27 or other source and with a liquidsource at one end and at the opposite end with a hollow ring or nozzle46 (FIGS. 7 and 5) through which the end of the flexible hose 21 passesand to which said hose is secured in any suitable manner, said air andwater lines 44, 45 opening into the interior thereof in a manner wellknown in this art so as to eject the liquid under pressure throughsuitable apertures at the front of nozzle 46. The thus projected liquidwill flow into the nozzle 46 and be projected therefrom to mingle withthe stream of fibers and moisten the same to precisely the degreerequired by the quantity flow of the material through the discharge hose21 as predetermined by the aperture 19 control means above described.

Pursuant to the invention, novel means are provided for automaticallyprecisely synchronizing the quantity flow of liquid to the quantity flowof fiber through the apparatus. Such automatic synchronism is attainedas follows: A valve 50 is placed in the liquid line 45 (FIGS. 7, 1, 6)and a pinion or sprocket 51 (FIG. 6) fixed to the valve stem isconnected with the aperture closing plate 28 as by a bracket 52 which inturn may be fixed to a link of chain 53 entrained over the sprocket 51;said bracket may have secured thereto or (FIG. 6) formed integraltherewith a rack 54in mesh with pinion 51. Thus, movement of the plate28 by the operators actuation of switches 3-8 or 39 will not only moveplate 28 and thus control the area of opening 19 and thus the quantityflow of fibers through the machine but also, simultaneously andautomatically, control the quantity flow of fluid through the pipe 45and out of the nozzle 46. The apparatus may be provided with wheels (55,FIG. 5) to facilitate moving the same.

Without further elaboration, the foregoing explains the invention sothat others may, by applying current knowledge, readily adapt the samefor use under various conditions of service.

The invention is not limited to the specific constructions asillustrated and described, as the same is only illustrative of theprinciples involved which are capable of extended application in variousforms, and the invention comprehends all construction within the scopeof the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire tosecure by Letters Patent is:'

1. In a fiber projecting machine for mixing a stream of fibers and astream of moistening liquid and for varying the quantity flow of thestream of fibers and simultaneously and automatically controlling thequantity flow of the stream of moistening liquid, the improvementcomprising a fiber containing casing having an outlet port at its lowerend for discharging therefrom a stream of fibers, a plate-like valveslidably positioned adjacent said outlet port for movement into and outof closing registry therewith, power means operatively connected to theplate-like valve for moving the same relative to the out let portwhereby the quantity fiow of the stream of fibers from the casing can beselectively adjusted, means connected to the outlet port at the lowerend of said casing for conveying the stream of fibers from the casing toa surface to be coated, said means including a flexible pipe having atits free end a projection nozzle for directing and discharging a streamof fibers, means for supplying a stream of moistening liquid formoistening the stream of fibers including a liquid carrying conduitadapted to be connected at one end to a liquid source and having itsopposite end in fluid communication with said projection nozzle wherebythe moistening liquid and the stream of fibers are comingled as theypass through said projection nozzle, an adjusting valve in said liquidcarrying conduit for controlling the quantity flow of the stream ofmoistening liquid admitted to said projection nozzle, and coupling meansdirectly interconnecting said plate-like valve and said adjustable valvein said liquid carrying conduit, actuation of the power means to movethe plate-like valve and adjust the quantity flow of the stream offibers issuing from the casing being effective through said couplingmeans to simultaneously move the adjusting valve in the liquid carryingconduit in direct ratio to the degree of movement of the plate-likevalve and automatically adjust the quantity flow of the stream ofmoistening liquid to thereby maintain a preselected ratio between thequantity flow of the fibers and the quantity flow of the moisteningliquid to assure uniformity of moistening of the stream of fibers.

2. In a fiber projecting machine as set forth in claim 1, said adjustingvalve including an actuating stem and a pinion fixed to said actuatingstem, said coupling means directly interconnecting said plate-like valveand said adjusting valve comprising a chain entrained over said pinionon said actuating stem and being operatively connected to saidplate-like valve.

3. Ina fiber projecting machine as set forth in claim 1, said adjustingvalve including an actuating stem and a pinion fixed to said actuatingstem, said coupling means directly interconnecting said plate-like valveand said adjusting valve comprising a toothed rack fixed to saidplate-like valve with the teeth thereof in mesh with said pinion on saidactuating stem.

4. In a' fiber projecting machine as set forth in claim 1, said powermeans comprising a rod fixed at one end to the plate-like valve andactuating means connected to the other end of said rod to reciprocatethe rod to thus move the plate-like valve relative to the outlet port,and switch means controlling said actuating means to thus control themovement of the plate-like valve relative to said outlet port.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS StumpfJune 9, 1959

